Preview and predictions for the top 5 bowl games.
Artwork By: Hayden Johnson
Tostitos Fiesta Bowl
The #7 Oklahoma Sooners vs. the unranked Connecticut Huskies looks to be the biggest mismatch of the top 5 BCS bowl games. Oklahoma is in great form at this point in the season and are hungry for bowl victory due to the fact that they a 0-5 in their previous 5 BCS bowl games. Coming off of a huge win against Big 12 rivals Nebraska in the Big 12 championship, it looks like OU could compete with the best of college football, which does not include Connecticut. With a title win in the very uncompetitive Big East conference, the Huskies somewhat sneaked into the top 5 bowl games in this David vs. Goliath match against OU. However, OU has a history of underestimating non-major conference teams, as seen in their devastating bowl game loss in 2007 against Boise State. I think this time will be different for OU as they will be looking to prove that they deserved a more worthy opponent in their final game of the season. OU will dominate the Huskies in this game with their aggressive defense and powerful 4th ranked passing offense of Landry Jones to his top receivers Ryan Broyles and Kenny Stills. My final score prediction for this one will be OU winning, 45-6.
Discover Orange Bowl
The matchup of #8 Stanford vs. #13 Virginia Tech will be a battle between two very hot teams at the end of the season. Stanford, with an 11-1 record, is debatably the best one loss team in the country. Their only loss comes from a phenomenal Oregon team that is undefeated on the season. Virginia Tech is also a team on the rise winning 11 straight games after losing their first two to Boise State and James Madison. I think this game will be tilted in the favor Stanford due to their not so secret weapon, Quarterback Andrew Luck. Luck has over 3300 passing yards so far this season and is projected to be the most sought after quarterback for the NFL. He is also the second leading rusher on the team and can create play both in the air and on the ground. For Virginia Tech to win this game, Quarterback Tyrod Taylor has to have the game of his life and completely go off on the Cardinal Defense. I think this is an unlikely scenario and I believe that Stanford’s underrated defense will hold the Hokies high-powered offense. I see this one ending in a Stanford victory with an NFL- like performance from Luck and a final score of 30-17.
Vizio Rose Bowl
The coveted Rose Bowl invitation was received by # 3 Texas Christian and #5 Wisconsin this year. Down the stretch, Wisconsin has been one of the most impressive teams this year and their offense at this point in the season can be described in only one word, unstoppable. The badgers have racked up over 200 points in their last three games and have many impressive wins against some of the best programs in the nation, including Ohio State. TCU is also a team not to be reckoned with. They finished off the regular season with a perfect 12-0 record and hoped to be the first non-major conference to make it to the National Championship game. Because of their schedule and predicted inability to compete with major conference teams, they were not invited to the national championship game. However, I think this will be simply fuel to the fire lit by the Horned Frogs and will propel them to victory to not only win the Rose Bowl, but to prove that they are deservedly one of the best teams in the nation. The #1 ranked TCU defense will put Wisconsin’s scoring rampage to an end and will be the deciding factor for the tide of the game. I see this one as being a defensive struggle with TCU coming out on top with a score of 17-14.
Allstate Sugar Bowl
This game will be a classic matchup between Big 10 giant #6 Ohio State and SEC opponent #8 Arkansas. Both of these programs are of the best in the country, and are more than comfortable on a big stage like the Sugar Bowl. Arkansas is having an outstanding season with their only two losses coming from Auburn (current #1) and Alabama, who was ranked #1 at the time. Arkansas is ranked 3rd in the country for passing yards, and has one of the best quarterbacks in the country in Ryan Mallet. Ohio State is also a very talented squad, as they seem to be every year. They were nearly perfect on the season with their only loss coming from a very talented Wisconsin team. Ohio State’s defense is their pride of the season and they are raked 13th in the nation with only giving up an average of 13 points a game. This game is going to be a close game, but I see history repeating itself as Ohio State is 0-9 versus SEC teams in bowl games. Arkansas will win this one 36-24.
National Championship Game
This year’s national championship game between #1 Auburn and #2 Oregon is one of the most highly anticipated matchups that college football has seen in years. Both of these teams will be making their first national title appearance in history. Both of these teams have very high-powered offenses and a heap of individual talent. Auburn has predicted Hesiman winner Cam Newton on their side, while Oregon has LaMichael James, who many compare to the great LaDainian Tomlinson (for much more than just the “La” in their names). Newton leads his team in rushing yards, passing yards, and touchdowns with 28. James carries the ball, and his team, in his arms and has over 1,600 yards rushing and 21 touchdowns. No matter how evenly these two offensive powerhouses match up, I think that Auburn will reign victorious and will dominate the second half like they have against their past two opponents, Alabama and South Carolina. Oregon will keep it close, but I see the tigers standing on top with a score of 24-21.
